Hello! Welcome to the BLOG section of my website. It has been a long time coming and I'm excited to finally publish my first post!

Back in 2009, I worked for New York Magazine as the Art Assistant. My job was to help with administrative duties in the Art Department (sending contracts to illustrators, keeping the wall updated, etc) in addition to a few design projects. Ever ambitious, I was incredibly curious and eager to do more creative work. I had just discovered the endless amount of visual inspiration that could be found the internet, via blogs (before Pinterest). So just like that, I started my own blog, "Velvet Nectar." I described it as "news, musings, and photographs regarding letterpress, design, and attempt at authentic living." It was filled with thoughts and photos of my life in Brooklyn, as well as cool, creative things happening around me. When I felt creatively stifled in the office, my blog was my outlet. Eventually, I began doing letterpress and design, which fulfilled me creatively, and the blog fell to the wayside. I miss having a small writing outlet, however, so here we are again.

The About: Macon York page gives my brief bio, but my intention is for this blog to provide updates and insights into my life - as a designer, letterpress printer, artist, small business owner, hiker, gardener, resident of Asheville, Southerner, and any other title that fits. With the launch this blog, I want to share two huge pieces of news regarding my letterpress business and my personal life:

#1: This summer I bought two Vandercook #4 Letterpress machines. I bought the first one from my friend Laurie who owns the local letterpress studio, Asheville BookWorks. The second was purchased from Dan at The Arm in Brooklyn, New York - where I first learned to print. It's arriving next week and I can't wait! More on my presses and studio in an upcoming blog post.

The Vandercook #4 before Dan fixed it up! (Pic from @the_arm on Instagram)

Dan is a magic worker - it's the one in the back and like new! (Pic from @the_arm on Instagram)

Leaving Brooklyn! (Pic from @the_arm on Instagram)

#2: I got engaged in May to a wonderful man I met in 2012 while hiking the Appalachian Trail! I am so excited to enter in to the mystery and magic of marriage. After working with so many lovely brides on their invitations, and attending 8 wedding last year (!!), it's been really fun to be a bride myself.

Luke and I met near the 100-mile mark while independently hiking the Appalachian Trail in March 2012. We had been hiking for about a week at that point. We hiked the rest of the trail together, fell in love, and moved to Asheville the next year. This past May, we returned our meeting spot and he proposed!!